It seems to me that our nation is suffering through a period of time when sound standards of ethics and morals are not what are shaping us. I am not going to give statistics or examples to prove my diagnosis, because I find such a demonstration depressing. But in response to the moral lethargy around us, I want to focus on the subject of integrity.

I have read several definitions of the English word "integrity," and I have studied the Bible to try and determine what the equivalent terms there really mean. And what the Bible refers to is, for me, the more important issue. I have come to the conclusion that "integrity," as the Bible presents it, is comprised of two equally important elements. First, a person of integrity must accept the moral principles which God endorses. Second, a person of integrity must live a life guided and shaped by those same moral principles.

Now this definition does not mean that a person of integrity must apprehend perfectly God’s ethical standards. The Bible seems to me to be pretty clear in revealing that only God perfectly knows and understands God’s will. In addition, this definition does not mean that a person is a person of integrity only if he or she never fails to live according to the ethical standards to which he or she aspires. King David went against his own ethical standards when he committed adultery with Bathsheba and when he gave orders to ensure that her husband was killed in battle; and yet David is described, after his death, as a man who "walked, with integrity of heart and uprightness" (1 Kings 9:4). Why was he described in that way? How could he merit should a glowing endorsement? It was because David acknowledged and repented of what he did, and the failings in David’s life did not cancel out the fact that the norm for King David was diligent adherence to sound moral principles based on the will and nature of God.

With those clarifying comments lets look again at the definition of integrity which it seems to me best accords with the biblical view. First, a person of integrity must accept the moral principles which God endorses. Second, a person of integrity must live a life guided and shaped by those same moral principles.

It seems to me that such persons, persons of integrity, are becoming increasingly rare. Many today assume that whole classes of people are out to cheat them. And the evidence to support their assumption is not hard to find. It is unusual for the daily news not to have some report of highly unethical behavior by someone or another. It might be a business person, a politician, a lawyer, a minister, an athlete, an academic, or a retired person who cheats a government assistance program. And this moral vacuum has a innate tendency to grow, because it causes young people to grow up thinking that a person has to be at least a bit underhanded to get by in this world, so it is all right to be like everyone else; it is all right to be ethically shady.

Brothers and sisters, it is not all right! Look again at and be impacted by the verses which comprised our Scripture reading this morning. "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out" (Proverbs 10:9). "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them" (Proverbs 11:3). "The wicked are overthrown by their evil-doing, but the righteous find a refuge in their integrity" (Proverbs 14:32). The last verse is my favorite, because it meets many current attitudes head-on. "Better to be poor and walk in integrity than to be crooked in one’s ways even though rich" (Proverbs 28:6).

We have been called to be a people of God, to be persons/individuals of God. We are to live as lights for God––lights who show God’s way of righteous living. We cannot do that; we cannot be God’s lights if we adopt shadowy standards created by self-interest. How can the light of God be seen in lives like that? It can’t!

Brothers and sisters, let’s take hold of our calling. Let’s aspire to show forth the will of God in all we do. Let’s make very clear to everyone around us that we would rather "be poor and walk in integrity than to be crooked . . . even though rich."

The Bible teaches that the people of God will have God’s will written upon their hearts. The Bibles teaches that the Holy Spirit dwells within us and causes us to be a holy people. We must allow God’s promises to live within and through us. God’s will can shine by His power. Let’s surrender to that power; let’s allow God to make of us women and men of integrity.

Back in the Spring at the annual Pepperdine University Bible lectures, I attended a class taught by Dr. Perry Cotham. Dr. Cotham taught both Margaret and me as undergraduate students at David Lipscomb University. His class at the Pepperdine lectures was on integrity. Dr. Cotham, for as long as I have known him, has been especially interested in the way that Christians should deal with issues of ethics and morals, and he has done much writing in that area. As a result, he has done a good deal of research relative to integrity. Out of that research he has created a list which he entitles "Twenty Clear Symptoms of Integrity." I want to share that list with you; and, if you would like a printed copy of this list, please call the church office, ask for Patsy Rogers, and she will send a copy to you.

How can you incorporate integrity into your life? Here are the ways Dr. Cotham suggests:

1. By clearly stating your ideals, values, and deepest, heart-felt principles and making an honest effort to live up to them.
2. By knowing who you are and what you are before God.
3. By taking responsibility for what you personally have done or said.
4. By making your deepest motivations and intentions clear to all people who will be impacted by your behavior.
5. By playing by the time-honored rules.
6. By taking vows seriously.
7. By taking your language choices seriously.
8. By taking a stand BEFORE counting votes.
9. By following the Golden Rule.
10. By educating and following your conscience.
11. By staying true to your principles even when costly.
12. By treating each person you encounter with respect.
13. By clearly representing the views and actions of others.
14. By trying never to leave the wrong impression.
15. By taking time for the simple act of helping your neighbor without the possibility of material gain.
16. By keeping your hidden agenda always open. [This one is paradoxical in that it is not immediately obvious how a hidden agenda can be open. The point is that we all operate on the basis of assumptions and goals that are inside of us and not self-evident to others. This symptom of integrity calls upon us to be willing always to open that agenda within; we should be always willing honestly and forthrightly to reveal our guiding assumptions and goals.]
17. By constantly testing your opinions and stereotypes of people different from you in the light of truth and facts.
18. By owning up to any personal stake or personal interests in a major decision you are making or helping to make.
19. By adamantly refusing to misrepresent a situation, statement, event, or any other reality.
20. By choosing the morally right path rather than automatically choosing the path of least resistance.

These are Dr. Perry Cotham’s Twenty Symptoms of Integrity. They can greatly assist us in evaluating our lives and determining if we are indeed women and men of integrity. I hope we will all use them so that our lives can be clear and guiding lights for God in this morally confusing world.

Look at Jesus. What integrity. He was honest and candid. He actualized standards of living and loving that were patterned after the nature of His Father-God. When we call upon persons to be persons of integrity, we are doing something that the New Testament does all of the time when it calls upon to be like Jesus. To be like Jesus is to be a person of integrity. Let’s walk in the steps of our Lord. Let’s shine to the glory of our God.

Please open your songbook to song #948 and look at verse three of that song with me.

I am resolved to follow the Savior,
Faithful and true each day,

Heed what He sayeth,
do what He willeth,

He is the living way.

(Palmer Hartsough)

Adam is going to come lead us in that song. It will serve as our invitation song. If anyone needs to come to Jesus this morning, we want you to do that in just a moment as we stand and sing. But this song is also an invitation song for us all. May we all respond to this song’s invitation by resolving to follow Jesus by being faithful and true each day in the way we live, in the way we treat others, in the way we make moral decisions. May we all resolve to be women and men of integrity. Let’s stand and sing.